Electrical connector assembly

• US 7,481,664 B1
• Filed: 06/12/2008
• Issued: 01/27/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 06/12/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Creganna Unlimited Company (TE Connectivity Ltd. (United Kingdom))
• Original Assignee: Tyco Electronics Corporation (TE Connectivity Ltd. (United Kingdom))
• Inventors: Farole, Dominic A., Knoll, John K., Beck, Timothy M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hammond; Briggitte R
• Application Number:
  US12/137,737
• Time in Patent Office: 229 Days
• Field of Search: 439/350, 439/352, 439/358
• US Class Current: 439/359
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/512 assembled by screw or screws
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/5224 for medical use
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/6275 Latching arms not integral with the housing H01R13/6276, H01R13/6277, H01R13/6278 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/648 Protective earth or shield arrangements on coupling devices , e.g. anti-static shielding coaxially arranged shields H01R24/38

Abstract

An electrical connector assembly is disclosed. A rectangular plug and rectangular receptacle engage to provide a sealed and durable connector. The electrical connector assembly provides electric, fluid, data and other suitable information suitable for surgical, medical or other device applications. A latch is used to secure the plug with the receptacle and prevent the plug from being easily removed from the receptacle. The connector is substantially sealed to prevent fluid, dust particles and/or other matter from entering the components and damaging the connector assembly.

Claims

1. An electrical connector assembly comprising a rectangular plug and a rectangular receptacle;

the rectangular plug comprising;

a plug housing comprising an upper plug housing and a lower plug housing configured to mate with the upper plug housing;

a plug shield comprising an upper plug shield and a lower plug shield configured to mate with the upper plug shield, the mated upper plug shield and lower plug shield being disposed in the mated upper plug housing and lower plug housing;

a plug terminal insert having at least one contact, the plug terminal insert disposed in the plug shield;

a latch configured with a button, an arm section and a pawl section, the latch rotating about a pivot point; and

the rectangular receptacle comprising;

a receptacle housing;

a receptacle shield configured to mate with the receptacle housing;

a receptacle terminal insert having an aperture for receiving the pawl, and a least two contacts corresponding with the at least one contact, the receptacle terminal insert being disposed in the receptacle shield; and

wherein the pawl engages with the pawl aperture to secure the rectangular plug to the rectangular receptacle when the rectangular plug and the rectangular receptacle are mated.

2. The electrical connector assembly of claim 1, wherein the at least one contact of the plug terminal is a spring loaded pin contact.

3. The electrical connector assembly of claim 1, wherein the at least one contact of the receptacle terminal is a spring loaded pin contact.

4. The electrical connector assembly of claim 1, wherein the upper plug housing and lower plug housing are secured with at least one fastener and wherein the upper plug housing and lower plug housing are sealed.

5. The electrical connector assembly of claim 1, wherein the latch member is spring loaded.

6. The electrical connector assembly of claim 1, wherein the receptacle shield and the plug shield are constructed of a conductive material.

7. The electrical connector assembly of claim 1, wherein the plug tail, plug terminal insert, plug housing, receptacle terminal insert, interfacial seal and receptacle housing are constructed of a non conductive material.

8. The electrical connector assembly of claim 1, wherein the plug comprises twenty-four contacts and the receptacle comprises twenty-four contacts.

9. The electrical connector assembly of claim 1, wherein the at least one contact of the plug and the at least one contact of the receptacle are at least one of fiber-optic, electrical, co-axial, and fluidic.

10. The electrical connector assembly of claim 1, wherein the at least one contact of the plug terminal is static.

11. The electrical connector assembly of claim 1, wherein the plug comprises a latch cover, wherein the latch cover seals the plug from fluids, dust particles and other matter.

12. An electrical connector assembly comprising:

a rectangular plug comprising at least one contact and a latch member; and

a rectangular receptacle matable with the rectangular plug, the rectangular receptacle comprising at least one contact and a receiver for the latch member;

wherein the latch member engages with the receiver to secure the plug to the receptacle, wherein the plug is removable from the receptacle when the latch is disengaged, and wherein the latch is sealed with a cover to substantially seal the plug, wherein the receiver for the latch member is a pawl aperture in a receptacle terminal insert and the at least one contact are disposed in the receptacle terminal insert.

13. The electrical connector assembly of claim 12, wherein the rectangular plug comprises:

a plug housing comprising an upper plug housing and a lower plug housing configured to mate with the upper plug housing;

a plug shield comprising an upper plug shield and a lower plug shield configured to mate with the upper plug shield, the mated upper plug shield and lower plug shield being disposed in the mated upper plug housing and lower plug housing;

a plug terminal insert having at least one contact, the plug terminal insert disposed in the plug shield; and

a latch configured with a button, an arm section and a pawl section, the latch rotating about a pivot point.

14. The electrical connector assembly of claim 13, wherein the rectangular receptacle comprises:

a receptacle housing;

a receptacle shield configured to mate with the receptacle housing; and

a receptacle terminal insert having an aperture for receiving the pawl, and a least two contacts corresponding with the at least one contact, the receptacle terminal insert being disposed in the receptacle shield.

15. The electrical connector assembly of claim 13, wherein the latch cover is a thin, flexible membrane.

16. The electrical connector assembly of claim 12, wherein the at least one contact of the plug terminal is a spring loaded pin contact.

17. The electrical connector assembly of claim 12, wherein the at least one contact of the receptacle terminal is a spring loaded pin contact.

18. The electrical connector assembly of claim 12, wherein the latch member is a spring loaded latch member.

19. The electrical connector assembly of claim 12, wherein the at least one contact is at least one of fiber-optic, electrical, co-axial, and fluidic.